Here are the 10 most-read Rock River Current stories from March
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Stories about local entrepreneurs and restaurants continue to dominate our monthly lists of the most-read articles.
In March, the story with the most readership was about plans to revamp the former Josef’s Steakhouse & Oyster Bar and reopen it as Salt Barbados, which would have a similar menu to what customers remember.
There was also high interest in the upcoming rebuild of Charles Street, renovating Millennium Fountain to make it safe for people to play in and the return of the Rock River Anything That Floats Race.
Previously: Our 10 most-read stories from February
We keep track of what readers engage with the most to help decide where to dedicate our resources. This year, we’ve decided to share our top 10 stories list with you each month so you can catch up with any of the big stories you may have missed.
Here are the 10 most-read Rock River Current stories from March 2023.
New ownership to revive former Josef Steakhouse into new restaurant
New ownership plans to revamp the former Josef’s Steakhouse & Oyster Bar with a new upscale dining establishment.
The menu will be similar to what customers of Josef’s remember.
Previously: Our Top 10 most-read stories from January
Josef’s, 6860 Spring Creek Road, closed at the end of December after 17 years in business. Dr. David Stern, the CEO of the urgent care software company Experity, is developing plans to bring it back into business as Salt Barbados, according to documents filed with the city.
Rebuild starts April 3 on ‘one of the worst roads in the entire city’ of Rockford
Construction starts Monday on a roughly half-mile stretch of Charles Street in Rockford.
The city will remove and replace about 3,500 feet of roadway from 28th Street to Parkside Drive. Improvements also include a new multi-use path on the south side of the roadway, sidewalk replacement, new traffic signals, new concrete curb and gutters and a new storm sewer system to help alleviate drainage issues.
Tom & Jerry’s fourth Rockford-area restaurant is open for business
Tom & Jerry’s has opened its fourth location in the region, bringing its gyros, Italian beef sandwiches, Vienna beef hot dogs and other favorites to Loves Park for the first time.
The local fast-dining chain opened its newest restaurant on March 21 at 7170 E. Riverside Blvd. in Loves Park.
Social reopens in downtown Rockford with a new concept
Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails, 509 E. State St. in Rockford, celebrated its grand reopening March 15. It was three years to the day that the restaurant closed under the state-mandated restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Related: Each month’s most-read Rock River Current story in 2022
The restaurant returned with a new concept inspired in part by the pinchos bars in the northern region of Spain.
Millennium Fountain was never designed for people to play in. That’s about to change
The city of Rockford plans to renovate Millennium Fountain to make it safe for people to play in.
The 23-year-old fountain along Water Street in downtown Rockford was never designed with the type of water treatment system that makes it safe for human use. That hasn’t stopped people from splashing around in it on a hot summer day.
The city plans to make changes this summer so the fountain is safe for play.
Rock River Anything That Floats Race returns to Rockford
The Rock River Anything That Floats Race is making a comeback this summer.
It’s scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20, traveling 1.65 miles from the Auburn Street bridge to Prairie Street Brewing Co.
This is the first time the event has been held since 2019. It’s the fifth year of the Anything That Floats Race, which is built on the tradition of other raft races that date back to the 1970s.
Camera Craft, Rockford’s last locally owned camera store, to close April 8
Camera Craft, the last independently owned camera store in the region, will close next month, ending more than a century in business.
Owner Tom Brady had put the business up for sale earlier this year as he prepared to retire after 25 years of ownership and decades more working at the store. After no buyer emerged, he set a closing date for April 8.
Barber moving business to Rockford wants to help more women break into the trade
A new barbershop is moving into the former Kuma’s restaurant, 420 E. State St. in Rockford.
Elena Martinez is moving Esquisite LX from its home in Rockton to downtown Rockford.
New Creole soul food restaurant ready for debut in downtown Rockford
A new restaurant born out of a food truck and catering business is bringing modernized Creole soul cuisine to the city’s downtown.
Ambiance Cuisine Cocktails & Catering, 307 S. Main St., marks its grand opening April 8.
Rockford brothers’ company Phateez breaks the mold for sunglasses
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas
